I do not know the Beatles at all, really. I mean, I know them in the peripheral way that everyone is born knowing them, but I don't really - what's good?
Their early works were based around the music they grew up with - rockabilly blues type (Elvis and Chuck Berry) - and the pop music of Britain in the late '50s. The songs are sweet and innocent compared to later works. Also, when George Martin began producing them, their sound changed (for the better I think), opened up more. I like the early stuff, but I prefer songs from Rubber Soul, Revolver, Magical Mystery Tour, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band – they moved into more of an experimental stage (also seeking spiritual advice from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and getting heavily into drugs) with this music during the late '60s and early '70s. And yes, I'm old enough to know this first hand. ;)
I agree that Beatles are aces to sing along to. I also agree that the less weird/drug-addled stuff is usually better for that, although going "Crabalocker fishwife, pornographic priestess, boy, you been a naughty girl you let your knickers down. I am the eggman (woo!), they are the eggmen (woo!) I am the walrus! Goo goo ga joob!" is pretty fun.
Dolly Parton is one of my all-time never-fail singalongs - she does a "Good MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORNING Captain! Good morning to you sir, hey hey!" better than anyone. :)
Magnetic Fields are singy for me... not all of their/Stephin Merrit's songs, obv, but Washington DC and I Don't Believe You and The Luckiest Guy On The Lower East Side and stuff are totally singable.
Um, I have maybe been listening to Adam Lambert a lot lately? So I would say that if you can listen to his version of Feelin' Good and NOT start singing in homo-tastic asskicking awesome glee then you are, uh, possibly saner than I am. XD
Dan Bern and Darren Hanlon and Moxy Fruvous and the Arrogant Worms are my go-to for singable silly songs, although they also have slightly more serious ones.
Josh Ritter is folk-rock with a very sing-and-danceable edge to it, I love it - not all of them are Must Sing Along but a lot off all his albums up to and including 'The Golden Age of Radio' (including one called LAWRENCE KANSAS, I SHIT YOU NOT) are totally sing-tastic. I don't love his latest stuff as much, but it hasn't had the time to grow on me so maybe you will like it better.
I also find though that there are two kinds of singalong songs for me, shouty angry ones and singy dancey ones. Those are singy-dancey, but I have a whole nother set of recs if you like yelling angrily in time. XD
Ha, EVERYTHING! Notably The Mountain Goats: If You See Light, and Regina Spektor's "Rejazz" and quite a lot of Dresden Dolls and Placebo songs and er... yeah everything :P
Dar Williams. Vienna Teng. R.E.M. (Both of these latter two have some that are hard to sing along with, and then some it's great fun to belt.) Sarah McLachlan. Guster. Queen.
Eye of the Tiger, Don't Fear the Reaper, Kiss From A Rose, Total Eclipse of the Heart, ten billion others in the "classic rock" or "ridiculous 80s" genres which practically require one to make Dramatic Gestures!!! while singing into an imaginary microphone. (My little brother and I frequently do this when cooking together. I... yes.) If it's over-wrought and ridiculously earnest, AWESOME.
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Date: 2009-06-16 06:53 pm (UTC)idon'treallylikequeen
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Date: 2009-06-16 07:50 pm (UTC)Dolly Parton is one of my all-time never-fail singalongs - she does a "Good MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORNING Captain! Good morning to you sir, hey hey!" better than anyone. :)
Magnetic Fields are singy for me... not all of their/Stephin Merrit's songs, obv, but Washington DC and I Don't Believe You and The Luckiest Guy On The Lower East Side and stuff are totally singable.
Um, I have maybe been listening to Adam Lambert a lot lately? So I would say that if you can listen to his version of Feelin' Good and NOT start singing in homo-tastic asskicking awesome glee then you are, uh, possibly saner than I am. XD
Dan Bern and Darren Hanlon and Moxy Fruvous and the Arrogant Worms are my go-to for singable silly songs, although they also have slightly more serious ones.
Josh Ritter is folk-rock with a very sing-and-danceable edge to it, I love it - not all of them are Must Sing Along but a lot off all his albums up to and including 'The Golden Age of Radio' (including one called LAWRENCE KANSAS, I SHIT YOU NOT) are totally sing-tastic. I don't love his latest stuff as much, but it hasn't had the time to grow on me so maybe you will like it better.
I also find though that there are two kinds of singalong songs for me, shouty angry ones and singy dancey ones. Those are singy-dancey, but I have a whole nother set of recs if you like yelling angrily in time. XD
p.s. got postcard today. ♥ you!
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Date: 2009-06-16 07:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-16 08:29 pm (UTC)In general: assorted musical songs, a lot of Wicked and Spring Awakening, "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey.
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Date: 2009-06-16 10:56 pm (UTC)In short: living alone = no qualms about howling out anything I like at the top of my lungs.
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Date: 2009-06-17 01:59 pm (UTC)Popular stuff lately: Jonathan Coulton, "Don't Stop Believing" by the cast of Glee, John Legend
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Date: 2009-06-17 02:47 pm (UTC)Dar Williams. Vienna Teng. R.E.M. (Both of these latter two have some that are hard to sing along with, and then some it's great fun to belt.) Sarah McLachlan. Guster. Queen.
Eye of the Tiger, Don't Fear the Reaper, Kiss From A Rose, Total Eclipse of the Heart, ten billion others in the "classic rock" or "ridiculous 80s" genres which practically require one to make Dramatic Gestures!!! while singing into an imaginary microphone. (My little brother and I frequently do this when cooking together. I... yes.) If it's over-wrought and ridiculously earnest, AWESOME.